Julia’s Summer Glass & Lamp Auction Tops $1.6 Million

Fairfield, ME ~ June 11-12, 2014. For nearly 50 years the auction firm of James D. Julia, Inc. has presented a steady string of quality auctions in each of their specialty divisions. The company has weathered economic changes and market fluctuations to remain at the top of the heap. Their most recent glass and lamp auction garnered an impressive $1.6 Million. The one day sale was a marvelous array of fresh merchandise including exquisite Tiffany lamps, French and English cameo glass, fine art glass or Victorian glass, jewelry, accessories, and more for collectors at just about every level.

Once again, Tiffany proved to be a strong performer. Since their inception, Tiffany has always been synonymous with quality and elegance. And today’s affluent collectors aren’t afraid to step up to the plate to add such pieces to their collections. Ranging from exceptional vases, to fine leaded lamps to quality desk accessories, Tiffany had the well-heeled covered. Of the lighting highlights, a beautifully colored Tiffany Tulip table lamp estimated at $30,000-50,000 sold for $35,197. A Tiffany Studios apple blossom example surpassed expectations of $22,000-25,000 to sell for $27,945. An unusual Tiffany Woodbine table lamp with honeycomb confetti glass panels finished with a band of red, purple, and amber flowers went out at $27,255 within a $25,000-35,000 estimate. A Tiffany belted dogwood table lamp with a nicely mottled green geometric background decorated with a swath of blossoms and intertwined vines sold for $32,587, beating out a $28,500-32,500 estimate. Also worthy of note was a Tiffany gold favrile decorated inverted dome shade with hooked feather design that exceeded its conservative $2,750-3,000 estimate to finish up at $6,682.

The auction continued with a generous offering of Tiffany vases. Of particular note was a favrile decorated vase with a blue iridescent King Tut design. It saw strong action to sell for $14,220, ignoring a $7,000-9,000 estimate. A pair of numbered Tiffany red favrile vases with slender bodies, tapered shouldered shoulders and flaring neck changed hands at $9,112, nearing the halfway point of its $8,000-12,000 estimate. On the more delicate side, a Tiffany flower form vase with subtle pulled feather design extending the length of the bowl found a buyer at $8,295, nearly tripling the low end of its $3,000-5,000 estimate. Another more slender Tiffany flower form example that looked like it might shatter with a stout breath with a light gold iridescence against a creamy background sold for $9,720 within its $8,000-12,000 estimate.

Other Tiffany included a fabulous pair of leaded windows with mottled blue geometric panels surmounted by panels of stylized leaves and a large jeweled panel at the top. Stunning with the sun shining through them, the pair went out at the top of its $12,000-15,000 estimate to bring $14,580. Another leaded glass window, a contemporary creation by Somers Stained Glass depicting a beautiful peacock among a drapery of flowers sold for $12,150 against an estimate of $10,000-15,000.
The auction continued with an exceptional offering of nearly 20 pieces of Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre from the Betty & Leonard Issod collection. Considered one of the finest collections of its type, it lived up to the hype. Julia’s has handled much Fairyland Lustre over the years, but never an exceedingly rare Nizami covered box depicting Persian gentlemen in a garden setting. This unusual treasure performed admirably, selling for $23,692, surpassing an estimate of $15,000-20,000. A gorgeous Fairyland Lustre shoulder vase decorated in the Imps on a Bridge pattern depicting a parade of innocuous goblins traversing a woodland bridge sold for $17,775, just above expectations of $15,000-17,500. From the same collection, a Fairyland Lustre vase in the Sycamore Tree pattern earned $9,480 while a teacup and saucer in the Nizami pattern went out at $8,505, each surpassing their respective estimates. From a separate collection, a Fairyland Lustre plaque in the Torches pattern depicting imps swimming in a river with a stairway leading to a distant castle in the background neared mid-estimate to sell for $12,150.

The auction likewise featured a generous selection of art glass. A marvelous Steuben paperweight cologne bottle with a black and white swirled mottled center with scores of controlled bubbles was a hot ticket. It went out at $10,665 against a $5,000-8,000 presale estimate. A rare Steuben Intarsia footed bowl with translucent raspberry leaf and vine decoration was an example of the company’s highest level of quality. Signed by Frederick Carder, the bowl sold for $8,505, just inside its $8,000-12,000 estimate. Joining the art glass parade was a variety of Loetz glass including a lovely Medici silver overlay vase with a rainbow of iridescence surmounted by delicate sterling flowers and leaves. The piece sold for $7,290, besting a $5,500-6,500 estimate. A Loetz Titania vase with lovely rich red flame decoration emanating from the foot sold for $4,860 against an estimate of $1,500-2,500. A stellar Loetz hanging lamp consisting of a cast bronze winged dragon holding in its mouth an iridescent shade with applied threading surpassed its $3,000-4,000 estimate to sell for $6,075.

The cavalcade of glass also included some spectacular Quezal. Highlights included a 15” Jack in the Pulpit vase with green pulled feather design surrounding its bulbous foot and extending to the broad petal lip. It finished up at $6,682 against a $4,000-6,000 estimate. A set of three Quezal snake skin decorated shades with green and gold iridescent zipper design brought $4,252, more than doubling a $2,000-3,000 estimate. And a shapely single Quezal shade with deep blue iridescence leading to a ruffled gold rim left its $600-900 estimate in the dust to sell for $2,733.

Another area for which Julia’s has long been well known is cameo glass. French cameo highlights included a Daum winter scene lamp with stark barren trees on a snow covered ground. Its matching shade and original hand hammered iron collar and spider made for an irresistible package. It easily surpassed its $9,000-12,000 estimate to sell for $16,590. A naturalistic Daum Nancy mushroom vase with great coloring and detail sold for $12,150, reaching past the same $9,000-12,000 estimate. And a Daum wheel carved cameo vase with red irises against a frosted amber background beat out its $6,000-8,000 estimate to sell for $8,505. A magnificent Galle mold blown vase with red and pink fuchsia flowers descending from the neck against a frosted creamy background edged past its $9,000-12,000 estimate to bring $11,850. The following lot, a Galle mold blown vase with amber flowers and leaves surpassed expectations of $7,500-9,500 to also bring $11,850.

English cameo included a scarce Stevens & Williams brown and cream vase with Persian influence that sold for $5,467 within a $5,000-7,000 estimate. A beautifully detailed Webb cameo citron vase with white flower and fern decoration likewise sold within estimate for $5,163.

In addition to the numerous Tiffany lamps was a strong selection of lighting by other renowned makers such as Handel, Pairpoint, Duffner & Kimberly, and more. A Handel Wisteria leaded table lamp with cool blue and purple flowers forming an irregular border of its massive shade went out at $20,665, just above the midpoint of its $15,000-25,000 estimate. An exceptionally rare Handel Aquarium lamp, sometimes referred to as an “Underwater” scene, sold after the auction for $32,750. A duo of Handel exotic bird reverse painted lamps, one with parrots nestled in the trees and the other with tropical birds in flight among the trees each sold within estimate for $13,665 and $8,505, respectively.

An extravagant Pairpoint Puffy Azalea table lamp with allover pink, white and red flowers atop an original Pairpoint pyramid base with cast relief poppies sold midway through its $12,500-17,500 estimate to sell for $14,812. A Duffner & Kimberly Colonial table lamp with green striated panels descending from the lip to form scrolls at the bottom of the shade went out at $6,792 against a $3,500-4,500 estimate. An unusual Le Verre Francais ceiling light decorated with a band of cameo cats around the body of the shade was most appealing. From the Susan & Roy Bittan collection, it sold for $8,887, surpassing an estimate of $4,000-6,000.

The sale was rounded out in part by a variety of spectacular jewelry and accessories such as a 5.10ct Burmese sapphire and diamond lady’s ring set within a white gold setting. This massive ring, the size of Rhode Island, sold for $15,405, surpassing expectations of $8,500-10,000. A platinum Belle Époque diamond brooch with delicate filigree and set with old mine cut diamonds sold above its $6,000-7,000 estimate for $8,887. An 18kt gold Italian collar necklace with a basket weave design sold for $6,986 (est. $5,650-6,650) while an 18kt yellow gold, ruby and diamond bangle bracelet sold for $6,075 (est. $5,000-6,000).

Other miscellaneous highlights included a selection of paperweights, both antique and contemporary, such as a lovely Paul Stankard Root People example depicting two nude male figures among a honeycomb design. It changed hands at $4,252 within a $4,000-6,000 estimate. A Paul Stankard floral and Root People paperweight with flowers in various states of bloom poking through the sandy soil went out at $2,430 against a $2,000-3,000 estimate. Of the antique variety, a Clichy millefiori paperweight with concentric circles of flowers sold well above its $500-700 estimate for $2,673.

Julia’s upcoming auctions include their annual End of Summer antiques & fine art auction in August while a phenomenal firearms and military memorabilia auction will be held in October. Julia’s next rare lamp & glass auction will follow in November. Julia’s is currently accepting consignments for these and other upcoming auctions. Call immediately for inclusion in these exciting sales.

About James Julia:
James D. Julia, one of the top ten antique auction houses in North America, is headquartered in Fairfield, Maine. The company also has an office in Woburn, Massachusetts and agent offices in California, Florida, and North Carolina. In business for almost five decades, the company conducts high-end antique, collectible, and decorative arts auctions throughout the year. Julia’s has routinely established new world records through its sales events. The company now consists of three key divisions, including rare firearms; fine and Asian art and antiques; and lamps and glass. Each division is regarded for its excellence and is staffed with world-class specialists to ensure fair and professional authentication, identification, and evaluation services. For more information please see www.JamesDJulia.com.

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Description

A marvelous Steuben paperweight cologne bottle with a black and white swirled mottled center with scores of controlled bubbles was a hot ticket. It went out at $10,665 against a $5,000-8,000 presale estimate.

On the more delicate side, a Tiffany flower form vase with a light gold iridescence against a creamy background sold for $9,720 within its $8,000-12,000 estimate.

A Tiffany belted dogwood table lamp with a nicely mottled green geometric background decorated with a swath of blossoms and intertwined vines sold for $32,587, beating out a $28,500-32,500 estimate.

French cameo highlights included a Daum winter scene lamp with stark barren trees on a snow covered ground. Its matching shade and original hand hammered iron collar and spider made for an irresistible package. It easily surpassed its $9,000-12,000 estimate to sell for $16,590.

From the Betty & Leonard Issod collection, an exceedingly rare Nizami covered box depicting Persian gentlemen in a garden setting performed admirably, selling for $23,692, surpassing an estimate of $15,000-20,000.

A gorgeous Fairyland Lustre shoulder vase decorated in the Imps on a Bridge pattern depicting a parade of innocuous goblins traversing a woodland bridge sold for $17,775, just above expectations of $15,000-17,500.

The auction continued with a generous offering of Tiffany vases. Of particular note was a favrile decorated vase with a blue iridescent King Tut design. It saw strong action to sell for $14,220, ignoring a $7,000-9,000 estimate.

A 5.10ct Burmese sapphire and diamond lady’s ring set within a white gold setting sold for $15,405, surpassing expectations of $8,500-10,000.

Of the lighting highlights, a beautifully colored Tiffany Tulip table lamp estimated at $30,000-50,000 sold for $35,197.

Other Tiffany included a fabulous pair of leaded windows with mottled blue geometric panels surmounted by panels of stylized leaves and a large jeweled panel at the top. Stunning with the sun shining through them, the pair went out at the top of its $12,000-15,000 estimate to bring $14,580.